Buzz Blog

Local Releases: Pie, Beer & Music

Once you're finished doing anything that has nothing to do with the holiday, check out these albums we got from local bands, including a release show happening this weekend. We're gonna start with a cool album from June that slipped passed us—but deserves your attention—by the band Rich Girlz. This is a three-piece surf-punk band featuring Ethan Shaw, Crosby Lloyd and Ruben Abeyta, who have been playing a lot of cool gigs in town since coming together. Last month, they released a four-track EP called He's A Lover that's quick and bouncy and rocking. You can download it for $3 off their Bandcamp page.

Next up is a little something new from Rest 30 Records in the form of the Jazz Jaguars. If you're not familiar with this band, it's one of the many bands David Payne had formed over the years, with this project featuring Halee Jean, Dolan Lucero and Christy Matthews, with the occasional guest vocalist. The band was actually a staple at Burt's Tiki Lounge in their final couple years, playing dedicated nights where it was just them. This is about as close to a full-length album as you might get from the group: a live album recorded at the Twilite Lounge, fittingly titled Twilite. You can snag a copy online for whatever you'd like to pay on Bandcamp.

Speaking of new releases from labels, we have the latest from Hel Audio from the band RS2090. The project featuring Sean Ivins on music and Swayze Hansen on visuals (seen at the live performances) blend ambient electronics with low-key beats, chillwave and synth. Up until now, the project has only been a minor character in the Hel Audio landscape, performing on other albums and compilations; the closest to releasing anything on their own was when they did a split with Mooninite in 2012. Thank You is RS2090's first full-length album, featuring music created over the past three years, and it sounds pretty damn good. I highly recommend checking it out and giving it a listen. You can download a digital copy of it for $5, or purchase a cassette tape of it for $6 off of Bandcamp.

While we're on the subject of electronic music, we have the latest album from Drauszen. We briefly chatted about him back in June when he released his last full-length album, _^. (Yes, that is the album name, an underscore and an arrow.) His latest—with the catchy title 15Nl25_01Ft05r—is much like you heard on the last album: very avant-garde, experimental, techno-based and glitchy. It sounds like a soundtrack for a cyberpunk thriller. You can download it for $10 off his Bandcamp page.

Another electronica album we've got on tap today is from SLC musician Drew Ehrgott, whom some of you may know from the band Reverence of the Martyr. While he may enjoy making metal, as a solo musician Ehrgott has gone more of the electronic vibe, with a couple of his own short releases over the past three years. Departure marks his first full-length album featuring what Ehrgott refers to as experimental and soundtrack-type tunes, which sounds really pleasant and would be great hearing in the background. You can download a copy for $7 on Bandcamp.

Going to acoustic rock, we have the debut album from the band Stormy. This is an SLC-based duo of Alexon Tiem and Caleb Young, who have been friends and making music since junior high. The two have put together this awesome demo album of songs they've created in their current form, but they've made it clear they're aiming to turn this into a bigger project with more members. You can download a copy of Words I'm Too Afraid To Say for a mere $5 off their Bandcamp page.

Finally, we come to our last album this week which comes with a release from Michelle Moonshine. Michelle is a local country/folk performer who has been gaining ground over the past three years, playing very thoughtful music to just the strum of her guitar. Over time, she's brought on a standing bass and drummer to form a trio, but the primary focus has been on herself. By the way, something about her voice will always get to you. Her self-titled EP will be released this Saturday, which you can go snag a copy of at The Garage for her release show with Ashlee K. Thomas, Bird In The Trees and Triggers & Slips. The show is $5 at the door and music starts at 9 p.m.